Ezekiel 21 11

Ezekiel 21:11 kjv

And he hath given it to be furbished, that it may be handled: this sword is sharpened, and it is furbished, to give it into the hand of the slayer.

Ezekiel 21:11 nkjv

And He has given it to be polished, That it may be handled; This sword is sharpened, and it is polished To be given into the hand of the slayer.'

Ezekiel 21:11 niv

"?'The sword is appointed to be polished, to be grasped with the hand; it is sharpened and polished, made ready for the hand of the slayer.

Ezekiel 21:11 esv

So the sword is given to be polished, that it may be grasped in the hand. It is sharpened and polished to be given into the hand of the slayer.

Ezekiel 21:11 nlt

Yes, the sword is now being sharpened and polished;
it is being prepared for the executioner.

Ezekiel 21 verses

Ezekiel 21 11 Meaning

This verse describes God's judgment against Jerusalem through the drawing of lots, indicating a specific and directed divine wrath against the city, preparing for its ultimate destruction and exile by the Babylonians. It signifies an irrevocable decision by God to bring forth the decreed punishment.

Ezekiel 21 11 Context

This verse is part of a powerful oracle in Ezekiel chapter 21, detailing God's impending judgment on Jerusalem and the nation of Israel. The prophet is instructed to direct his face toward Jerusalem and prophesy against the sanctuary, a severe and symbolic act. The preceding verses (Ezekiel 20) recount God's ongoing covenant faithfulness despite Israel's persistent rebellion throughout their history. This chapter, however, shifts to a forceful announcement of inevitable destruction. The specific imagery of drawing lots refers to the practice of casting lots to determine outcomes, here used by God to signify His sovereign decree and the directed nature of the impending doom upon specific groups within the besieged city, primarily signifying the Babylonian invasion and its devastating consequences. The drawn sword is a recurring symbol of God's judgment and warfare.

Ezekiel 21 11 Word Analysis

• "Therefore":Hebrew: לָכֵן (lakhen). This is a conjunctive particle indicating consequence, directly linking the previous pronouncements of God's judgment with the action described in this verse. It shows that the following action is a direct result of Israel's disobedience and God's unwavering plan for justice.
• "Son of man": Hebrew: בֶּן־אָדָם (ben-'adam). This is a recurring title used by God for Ezekiel, emphasizing his humanity and dependence on God. It highlights the prophet as God's messenger to a fallen people, reminding him of his role as a representative of humanity speaking to a specific human nation.
• "draw thee up": Hebrew: שַׁלֵּף (shalleph). This verb signifies to draw out, pull out, or unsheathe. It is applied here to a sword, referring to its drawing from its scabbard, signifying readiness for battle and the commencement of military action.
• "sword": Hebrew: חֶרֶב (kherev). This common Hebrew noun denotes a sword, a primary weapon of ancient warfare. Here, it symbolizes divine judgment, military conflict, and the instruments of destruction sent by God.
• "from his scabbard": Hebrew: מִן־נְדָנֶהָ (min-nədaneha). This phrase indicates drawing the sword out of its sheath, emphasizing its immediate readiness and impending use. It visually represents the unleashed force of God's wrath.
• "make it": Hebrew: הִלְטִישֵׁהוּ (hilṭishewhu). Derived from the root לוּטַשׁ (luṭash), meaning to sharpen, to whet, or to make gleam. This emphasizes that the sword is not just drawn but made ready and formidable for action, sharpened and polished for maximum destructive effect.
• "to be bare": Hebrew: חָשׂוֹף (khazopho). The verb refers to being naked or exposed, stripping away protection. Applied to the sword, it means making it bare and ready for use, or perhaps its edges gleaming.
• "to be bright": Hebrew: לְהִצְגִיּה (lehitstiyyah). Derived from a root meaning to gleam, to shine, or to be polished. This speaks to the terrifying readiness of the sword, its polished blade catching the light, a grim omen of imminent destruction.
• "that it may be glad": Hebrew: לִשְׂמֹחַ (liśmōªªch). This personification attributes emotion to the sword, implying it is wielded with intent and purpose, rejoicing in its deadly work as an instrument of God's justice. It represents the eager execution of divine judgment.
• "to consume": Hebrew: לְבַלַּע (levalla'). From the root בָּלַע (bala'), meaning to swallow, devour, consume, or absorb. This powerful imagery emphasizes the totality of the destruction that the sword represents, indicating complete annihilation and absorption of the intended target.
• "from the blade even to the hilt": Hebrew: מִן־הַטּוֹף וְעַד־הַבֶּלֶט (min-haṭṭōph wə‘adh-habbelet). This idiomatic phrase signifies from the beginning to the end, completely. It covers the entire sword, from the point of impact (the point or tip, possibly also interpreted as pommel or hilt depending on the precise nuance of ṭoph) to the handle or pommel, stressing that the destruction will be absolute and all-encompassing. The Hebrew terms here are debated among scholars; ṭoph can refer to the point or even the socket/hilt, while bêlet refers to the pommel or the shaft. Regardless, the range conveys totality.
• "draw lots": Hebrew: לִשְׁלִיט (lišləṭ). While shalleph (drawn) refers to the sword's action, the act of drawing lots is represented by the concept of "casting lots" as in "the lot is cast." The verse uses the outcome of drawing lots metaphorically to show how the judgment will be directed. The drawing of lots was a common method in antiquity for making decisions, distributing items, or assigning roles, and here it represents God’s directed and purposeful assignment of destruction upon Jerusalem.

Ezekiel 21 11 Bonus Section

The concept of God directing military actions or using specific instruments for judgment is a consistent theme in the Old Testament. The sword, as an instrument of judgment, often represents divine wrath, conquest, and the consequences of disobedience (Jeremiah 47:6-7; Amos 1:13-14). The "drawing of lots" mirrors the practice seen in assignments of territory (Joshua 18:6) or decisions in times of uncertainty (Proverbs 16:33), here applied to the distribution of judgment. The graphic detail "from the blade even to the hilt" underscores the finality and comprehensive nature of God's dealings with unrepentant nations, extending to the uttermost extent. The spiritual warfare aspect, though not explicit in modern terms, is seen in God activating powers and armies for His purposes, and the "gleaming" sword suggests the awe-inspiring, terrifying aspect of divine justice revealed.

Ezekiel 21 11 Commentary

Ezekiel 21:11 depicts the sovereign and directed nature of God's judgment upon Jerusalem. The imagery of drawing a sword from its scabbard, sharpening it, and making it gleam powerfully communicates that judgment is not haphazard but deliberately prepared and unleashed. The sword personified as "rejoicing" emphasizes the determined execution of God's wrath. The phrase "from the blade even to the hilt" conveys the thoroughness and totality of this destruction. The reference to drawing lots signifies that the judgment is divinely ordained and allocated, targeting specific areas or people within the city. This is God's determined intervention, carried out by human agents like the Babylonians, to bring justice for prolonged sin and rebellion.